This was my first year as the principal at NWAHS. I have been a teacher for 15 years and worked as an agronomist for years before that. Nothing can prepare a new principal for what goes on in any school. The staff here at school along with the NWHS staff made this year amazing and successful. I could not have done it without the help of Mrs. Jenkins our secretary. She kept everything organized, running smoothly, and went above and beyond with all of our special events all year. Mrs. Chase helped me understand scheduling, testing, ran our second shift program, and encouraged me all year. Mrs. Chase will be enjoying retirement next year and will be missed, especially her jokes! Thank you Mrs. Chase, enjoy retirement. Ms. Miller also helped me with scheduling as she will be taking the academic advising duties over next year. Ms. Miller works nonstop on special events and is helping to revamp our math program. These are difficult tasks and I appreciate all that she does. Mrs. Hitchcock has helped me with IEP’s, 504’s, and taught me how to read and understand a CA-60. She keeps track of accommodations for our special education population and explains each student’s disability to the staff very well. Thank you Mrs. Hitchcock for making our special education program the best it can be. Also working with our special education program is Mrs. DeConick, she is an aid and is second to none. She works with our more challenging students, where they produce credits as well as become more engaged in their academic future. Thank You Mrs. DeConick for helping these students reach their potential. Mrs. Wood is our teacher consultant that helps us from the ISD. Thank you Mrs. Wood for all of your advice and guidance this year. Many students are successful because of the knowledge you share. A huge, heartfelt thank you goes to Mrs. Kush our social worker that comes to us from the ISD as well. Mrs. Kusch makes a difference as soon as she walks in the building, helping with social issues as well as getting students in touch with the right people for additional help. Somehow thank you just isn’t enough. Mrs. Csage, besides being what I call an “edutainer” has helped me engage the public in what we do and how we help students. She made several relationships that kept several students in school and has great advice for our students as well as me. I count on her steady, upbeat attitude every day!

As I moved into the principal’s position we were not certain what to do about my social studies teaching position. We were fortunate to obtain two different subs to split the year. Mrs. Ibrahim and Mrs. Hemry, did an amazing job and gave our students their very best. Both of them were great at relationships and understood how to help each individual student. Thank you for sticking with us and doing great work. This year marks the best relationship between the high school and the alternative high school. Alternative students are taking classes at the high school and being successful. Our school is being included in assemblies, dances as well as prom. Alternative students feel welcome now more than ever in the high school. This is because of the work being done by Mr. Buchler, Mrs. Anspaugh, and Mr. Sczykutowicz. Thank you NW high school for accepting the alternative education students, and helping us find ways to help them become successful.

The last thank you goes to the central office staff and Mr. Bontrager. Thank you for allowing me to work as an interim principal helping me along with the new duties and responsibilities, believing in this program and working to make it better each year.

Thank you all! I am looking forward to the new school year, helping students and becoming better at all we need to do.